The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has accused officials of various security agencies attached to border communities in Nigeria of impregnating female residents especially teenagers in their host communities.
The IPCR said this during an enlightenment programme held on Saturday at Oke-Odan in the Yewa South local Government Area of Ogun State.
The Senior Research Fellow of IPCR, Mr Akangbe Moses, said security agents were compounding the issues in the border areas through the act.
Moses said, “Security agents are causing conflicts in their host communities. Some of them impregnate teenage girls and this has been leading to crises in those communities. This is aside from the usual problems they create.
“This is why we have been preaching women in governance so that you can collectively salvage the situation as mothers. You can contest any political office in your area as a woman, especially when you notice those who have been holding those offices are not doing it right.”
The wife of a reverend in the Oko-Oba area of Lagos State, Mrs Olusola Adeleke, has been arrested by the police for allegedly burning the skin of her home help with a hot iron.
The woman was arrested along with the reverend, Adebanjo, as the couple were alleged to have subjected the nine-year-old girl to series of physical abuse since she started living with them two years ago.
Sunday Punch learnt that the girl’s travails came to the limelight recently when one of the Adelekes’ two dogs bit her in the chest while she was feeding them.
It was said that the couple did not take her to hospital for treatment which prompted a mandated reporter to inform a child rights advocate, Mrs Toyin Taiwo-Ojo, about the case.
Taiwo-Ojo, a lawyer, told Punch correspondent that apart from the dog bites and mark of iron, there were scars of lashes all over the girl’s body.
She explained that she approached the reverend, who claimed his wife was playing with the victim when the hot iron burned her skin.
She said, “I asked him if the iron is a toy but he was speechless. The woman didn’t tell us what the girl did that warranted such inhumane treatment but the girl said she was punished for bedwetting.
“She said she is from Ajara (in Badagry). According to the girl, the couple lured her to their house two years ago through her mother’s friend. They told the mother that an elderly couple without a child needed somebody to keep their company and they promised to send her to school. That was why her mother released her to the couple
“We have been trying to reunite her with her family. She doesn’t know her surname; she only knows that her father was an Alhaji before he passed on. The suspects are pastors. They used horsewhips to beat the little girl who is about nine years old. There were scars all over her body from several previous beatings.”
Punch correspondent learnt that the state’s Ministry of Youth and Social Development were involved in the matter and the suspects were arrested on Thursday and transferred to the gender unit of the state police command headquarters in Ikeja.
The lawyer said the victim while narrating her experience stated that the couple gave her tough chores to do, including tendering to Adeleke’s aged mother.
She said, “The malnourished child said she had been staying with the couple for the past two years without going to school. Her daily chores include changing the diaper and cleaning of a 90-year-old grandmother, who also resides in the place. She also feeds the two Alsatian dogs in the house and takes care of their kennel. A scar by her breast was a dog bite she sustained four days earlier but the reverend and his wife did not deem it fit to take her to a hospital for anti-rabies and anti-tetanus injections.”
The child rights activist stated further that the girl was taken to a hospital for treatment where a preliminary report revealed that she had been sexually abused.
“A medical test has been carried out on her and the result will be out on Monday. The girl has not revealed who did the dastardly act to her because of the trauma she had gone through. We are still waiting for the outcome of the police investigation to know the perpetrator,” she added.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the arrest of the couple.
After sharing $925,000 on socila media to see if money will make people happy, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is now looking for a female "life partner" to accompany him on Space X's maiden tourist voyage to the Moon.
The fashion mogul, 44, is set to be the first civilian passenger to fly around the moon on the Starship rocket.
Planned for 2023, the mission will be the first lunar journey by humans since 1972.
In an online appeal, Mr Maezawa says he wants to share the experience with a "special" woman.
The entrepreneur, who recently split up from actress girlfriend Ayame Goriki, 27, has asked women to apply for a "planned match-making event" on his website.
"As feelings of loneliness and emptiness slowly begin to surge upon me, there's one thing that I think about: Continuing to love one woman," Mr Maezawa wrote on the website.
"I want to find a 'life partner'," Mr Maezawa added. "With that future partner of mine, I want to shout our love and world peace from outer space."
The website features a list of conditions and a schedule for the three-month long application process.
Retired Pope Benedict XVI has issued a defence of priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church as his successor considers easing a ban on married men serving as priests.
Pope Benedict made the appeal in a book co-authored with Cardinal Robert Sarah.
It comes in response to a proposal to allow married men to be ordained as priests in the Amazon region.
Pope Benedict, who retired in 2013, said he could not remain silent on the issue.
In the book, Pope Benedict says celibacy, a centuries-old tradition within the Church, has "great significance" because it allows priests to focus on their duties.
The 92-year-old says "it doesn't seem possible to realise both vocations [priesthood and marriage] simultaneously".
It is rare for Pope Benedict, who was the first pontiff to resign in almost 600 years, to intervene in clerical matters.
Keke Wyatt is a mother of 10! The R&B singer, 37, and her husband Zackariah Darring welcomed their first child together on the 6th of January, 2020.
“My husband Zackariah and I are blessed to welcome our beautiful and healthy 7lb 11ounce son, Ke’Riah Darring,” the new mom announced on Instagram Sunday.
“He came to our family on 1/6/2020. #GodIsGood,” Wyatt added.
Along with a photo of her newborn son, the star shared a nude mirror selfie of her baby bump before giving birth.
The Boeing CEO who was ousted last month for the company’s botched response to two crashes and the grounding of its best-selling plane will walk away with $62.2 million, the company has disclosed.
Boeing said, however, that Dennis Muilenburg will not get additional severance or a 2019 bonus, and will forfeit stock awards worth $14.6 million.
Muilenburg, who spent more than 30 years at Boeing, also has unexercised stock options that he has held since 2013 and that are worth more than $18.5 million at Friday’s closing price.
Muilenburg was fired in late December after failing to get the company’s 737 Max jetliner back in the air.
Boeing board Chairman David Calhoun will take over as CEO on Monday. He is a former General Electric and Nielsen executive with a reputation as a turnaround specialist.
A pilot and passenger were killed when a light aircraft crashed near Springs Airfield in the City of Ekurhuleni on Sunday.
According to the City's Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), the call for a rescue was received at around 18:20 and the two were declared dead when paramedics and firefighters arrived on the scene.
It is believed that the aircraft was about to land when it crashed. The pilot and passenger were found in the wreckage when rescue teams arrived.
"They were found to have sustained severe internal and visible multiple external trauma, hence they lost their lives," DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi said.
The identities of the deceased have been withheld.
Ntladi added that the Civil Aviation Authority, police officials and forensic investigators were also on the scene.
The Queen will meet senior royals in Sandringham later to discuss the future roles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales will all attend, while Meghan is expected to join the discussion by phone from Canada.
The Sussexes say they plan to step back as senior members of the Royal Family.
BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond described the meeting as "royal history in the making".
It is hoped the talks will produce a "next step" on the way to defining the couple's new relationship with the Royal Family - in line with the Queen's wish to find a solution within days.
The Queen will meet senior royals in Sandringham later to discuss the future roles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales will all attend, while Meghan is expected to join the discussion by phone from Canada.
The Sussexes say they plan to step back as senior members of the Royal Family.
BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond described the meeting as "royal history in the making".
It is hoped the talks will produce a "next step" on the way to defining the couple's new relationship with the Royal Family - in line with the Queen's wish to find a solution within days.
Suspected al Shabaab militants shot dead three teachers in Kenya near the border with Somalia on Monday and burned down a police station, police said, in what appeared to be the latest in a string of assaults by the group since the New Year.
A stray bullet wounded a child when the militants attacked Kamuthe primary school, in Garissa County, a police report seen by Reuters said. The militants also destroyed a telecommunications mast in the attack in the early hours of Monday, the report said.
The al Qaeda ally has targeted Kenya in frequent attacks, part of a retaliation campaign against the country for sending troops into Somalia in 2011 after a series of cross-border raids and kidnappings.
Britain’s ambassador to Iran, Robert Macaire, was briefly detained over the weekend as the country faces international condemnation over their downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 earlier this week. The news was first reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
“The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law,” Britain’s Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.
“The Iranian government is at a crossroads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards,” the statement continued.
The missile strike on the plane, which killed 176 people, including 82 Iranian nationals, sparked protests against the Iranian regime. In a tweet, Tasnim accused Macaire of “organizing suspicious movements and protests in front of Amir Kabir University.” They also said the ambassador, who was released, would be summoned Sunday to account for his actions.
Kylie Jenner doesn't appear to have let criticism of her outlandish car collection stop her from flaunting her fleet of SUVs and sports car.
Kylie has posted snaps of an impromptu photo shoot in her driveway surrounded by luxury cars, two months after she deleted pictures from Instagram when fans condemned her for her ostentatious show of wealth.
She captioned the collection "oh happy days" and family and friends including Khloe Kardashian and Corey Gamble commented on how "cute" she looked.
Kylie's car collection is the stuff car lovers' dreams are made of.
It is thought the entire fleet is worth more than $5 million.
However, it's hard to know for sure how many cars Kylie has at any one time as she is also a big fan of painting and wrapping her cars, which in itself can cost upwards of $10,000.
Wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow is letting fans get up close and personal to her with the latest intimate product on her Goop website.
The 47-year-old actress is selling a candle that smells like her vagina - and it’ll set you back a whopping £57.
The This Smells Like My Vagina candle is described as being “funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected.”
Gwyneth even gave fans an explanation as to how the candle was created, in the product description.
The Goop website explains: “This candle started as a joke between perfumer Douglas Little and GP—the two were working on a fragrance, and she blurted out, “Uhhh..this smells like a vagina”—but evolved into a funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent.
“(That turned out to be perfect as a candle—we did a test run at an In goop Health, and it sold out within hours.)
“It’s a blend of geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar absolutes juxtaposed with Damask rose and ambrette seed that puts us in mind of fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth.”
Sadly for fans keen to get a whiff of the bizarre candle, the product has currently sold out on Goop.
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have not spoken to each other for six months and the two women are further apart than ever, the Sunday People revealed.
The revelation follows this week’s announcement by Prince Harry and wife Meghan that they are stepping down from their senior roles in the Royal Family and want to become financially independent.
The Queen will oversee an emergency summit on Monday at Sandringham, in Norfolk, between Prince Charles, Prince William and Harry to sort out the next stages of the couple’s plan to quit The Firm.
Meghan, 38, is expected to join in the crisis meeting by video link from the couple’s rented mansion on Vancouver Island, western Canada where she is staying with eight-month-old son Archie.
According to royal sources, she will make the conference call if it works with her schedule owing to the eight-hour time difference between Vancouver and the UK.
As the crisis continues, it is understood Meghan, 38, was left feeling so cut off from the royals that she and her sister-in-law Kate severed all communication on a family WhatsApp chat group.
It is believed the pair have not spoken privately for six months and are further apart than ever following Meghan seemingly ignoring Kate’s 38th birthday celebrations at Kensington Palace and flying back to Canada on Thursday.
Meghan and Harry, 35, were also absent for Kate’s birthday weekend at Sandringham last Sunday.
An insider old the Sunday People: “Meghan feels like some members of the Royal Family look down on her because of her background.
“It has caused her a lot of upset and left relations in a very sorry state. They must find a way to resolve it and move forward as a family united.”
Kate, who enjoyed Meghan’s company while watching tennis from Wimbledon’s Royal box on Centre Court in July, is understood to have been disappointed by Harry and Meghan’s sensational decision to step down as senior royals.
No fewer than 50, 000 people applied for 1,000 vacant teaching jobs advertised in Lagos State last year.
Mr Suru Avoseh, a member, Lagos State Civil Service Commission made this known during the New Year Party organised by the Badagry Women Development Forum on Sunday in Badagry.
The Lagos State Government had on Nov. 11 announced plans to employ one thousand teachers into the public secondary schools across the state.
Avoseh said some of the applicants that qualified for the job had been invited for the examination.
“After the examination, those that passed and meet up with the standard will be called for oral interviews.
“At present, some of the applicants who succeeded in the examination have started receiving text messages.
“It is certain that not everybody that applied for the job will be employed, and not all that passed the examination will be given employment,” the commission member said.
Chocolate City Artist Blaqbonez has publicly slammed his dad after he tried to get his attention since leaving him as a baby.
The singer made the claim on twitter, sharing an allege message he claimed he got from his dad.
He also noted that, though his father has never been there for his since he was a child. He finished Uni, moved to Lagos and asked him for help, but his dad never responded.
Burna Boy has been nominated for the 40th edition of BRIT Awards 2020.
He bagged two nominations. He was nominated in the International Male category with contenders like Tyler, the Creator, Post Malone, Dermot Kennedy and Bruce Springsteen.
Burna Boy got his second nomination in the ‘Song of the Year’ category after featuring on Dave’s hit single ‘Location‘. The BRIT Awards 2020 will come up in February at the popular O2 Arena, London. Big congrats Burna!
The Nigeria Police Force, Ondo State Command, on Sunday arrested a prophet identified as Ayetare Sunday who allegedly pretended to be a police officer and performed fake miracles.
Before his arrest, the suspect, who claimed to be a prophet, masqueraded as Inspector Samuel Afolabi, also known as ‘Olopa to di woli’ which translates directly as ‘The policeman turned a prophet.’
The Police said the suspect was arrested in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the State, in December 2019.
According to the Police, the suspect had allegedly performed fake miracles to deceive unsuspecting members of the public using the name; ‘Inspector Afolabi, the prophet police officer’.
The suspect was also alleged to have involved in act of sexual harassment.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, while speaking with Punch‘s Correspondent, explained that the suspect had confessed to have committed the crimes upon interrogation.
Joseph said, “Ayetare Sunday, 35, a native of itepe Okitipupa, in a crusade at a white garment church in igbokoda, was arrested for offences of attempted rape and sexual harassment.
“On interrogation, the suspect also confessed to be(ing) a fake prophet who had been deceiving people by organising fake miracles. He stated further that he deceived his latest victim who was looking unto God for a child by telling her that he could make her pregnant.
“He added that in the process, he sexually harassed the woman. He concluded that he decided to adopt the same cognomen (Olopa to di woli) with Prophet Inspector Samuel Afolabi, in order to hoodwink people so as to get enough followers.
“It was however established that the suspect was never a policeman but an impostor and serial fraudster,” Joseph said, adding that the Command would not relent in its efforts to rid criminals out of the State.
Dakore Akande has denied her marriage has hit the rocks with a video on Instagram. Dispelling the rumour, the actress and ambassador to many brands said SHAME TO BAD PEOPLE and wished herself and husband a happy 10th wedding anniversary. She also used the opportunity to tell her husband -- Olumide Akande, son of Billionaire Akande that she loves him.
Recall rumours of her marriage hitting the rock started weeks ago with some also saying the couple ignored each other on their 10th wedding anniversary. So now, the truth...
This is very commendable! Rap mogul Jay-Z and hip-hop artist Yo Gotti wrote a letter to two top Mississippi officials protesting the conditions of Mississippi prisons and demanding change.
The letter contained a threat — Jay-Z and Yo Gotti are ready to sue the state if prison conditions aren't improved.
An outbreak of deadly gang violence that left five dead in Mississippi prisons has brought the system's long-running problems into sharp relief and under national scrutiny.
The letter, addressed to Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Pelicia Hall, mentions frequent prison lockdowns, violence, a staffing shortage and inmates who "are forced to live in squalor, with rats that crawl over them as they sleep on the floor, having been denied even a mattress for a cot."
In a statement, Yo Gotti called the conditions inside Mississippi prisons "absolutely inhumane and unconstitutional."
"To see this happen so close to my hometown of Memphis is truly devastating," the rapper's statement said. "That’s why we’re calling on Mississippi state leaders to take immediate action and rectify this issue. If they don’t right this wrong, we’re prepared to take legal action to provide relief for those that are incarcerated and their families.”
Alex Spiro, a New York lawyer representing Roc Nation, Yo Gotti and Jay-Z's company, signed the letter on behalf of Team Roc. He said he wrote the letter in collaboration with the celebrities.
